Accommodation
on the two Phi Phi Islands is limited to the larger of the pair, the northern
Phi Phi Don. It’s more rugged sister, a couple of kilometres to the south, has
no man-made structures on it whatever, save a rickety boat landing leading to
the mouth of the huge and famous cave there. There is virtually no flat land on
this island on which to build.

A
large part of Phi Phi Don also comprises vertical rock walls, ensuring that
large sections of this will also retain their untouched beauty forever. Phi
Phi’s accommodation is concentrated in the narrow isthmus separating two
beautiful bays seen in so many classic photos of these islands, while a few bungalow
resorts are scattered on small beaches up the east coast.

The more up-market resorts here usually live on pre-booked guests, while most
of the smaller establishments, particularly those along the twin bays, rely on
daily walk-ins. Backpacking tourists disembark from ferry boats from Phuket and
Krabi several times a day at the main Ton Sai jetty, and are besieged by young
men proffering brochures, rooms and boats to other parts of the islands.

The largest number of cheap rooms is found on the string of beaches facing Ton
Sai bay that stretches to the east of the main jetty. Those who want to look
and choose their room should walk along these beaches. To get there turn right
when disembarking at the jetty, walk through the small village of shops and restaurants,
following the trail along the beach. There is no motorised transport on the PhiPhiIslands at all, and those
who wish to go further up the island to one of the scattered resorts there will
need to rent a longtail boat. They are always waiting when the ferries arrive.

To the left of the Ton Sai jetty there are also some nice bungalows on the far
side of the big Phi Phi Islands Cabana, tucked in neatly below the high cliff
face.

Upmarket ResortsThe
best resort at Ton Sai is definitely the Phi Phi Island Cabana. It has
the prime location in all of Phi Phi, sitting right in the middle of the
coconut-covered peninsula, facing the beaches on both sides. This has by far
the largest swimming pool in Phi Phi, in idyllic conditions.
The Phi Phi Princess, on the back beach, is a good bungalow resort. One
really quiet get-away on the east coast, the PeePeeIslandVillage,
has a whole beach to itself, and virtually no outsiders can get here. At the
top end of the island the Holiday Inn Phi Phi (formerly Phi Phi Palm
Beach, and often still called that) offers particularly attractive bungalows
set in beautiful coconut garden, and one of the four swimming pools in these
islands.